reed mace

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

reed mace
    n 1: tall marsh plant with cylindrical seed heads that explode
         when mature shedding large quantities of down; its long
         flat leaves are used for making mats and chair seats; of
         North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa [syn:
         {cat's-tail}, {bullrush}, {bulrush}, {nailrod}, {reed
         mace}, {reedmace}, {Typha latifolia}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

cattail \cat"tail\, Cat-tail \Cat"-tail\(k[a^]t"t[=a]l), n.
   (Bot.)
   A tall erect rush or flag ({Typha latifolia}) growing widely
   in fresh and salt marshes, with long, flat, sword-shaped
   leaves, having clusters of small brown flowers in a dense
   cylindrical spike at the top of the stem; -- called also
   {bulrush} and {reed mace}. The leaves are frequently used for
   seating chairs, making mats, etc. See {Catkin}.
   [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

   Note: The {lesser cat-tail} is {Typha angustifolia}.
         [1913 Webster]